Method and apparatus for applying a liquid to panels



R. C. BROWN Aug. 21, 1962 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A LIQUID TO PANELS Filed Sept. 18. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS I LJ 1 l w .a Q 1 1 xwful f H 2 Aff l ,i

Aug. 21, 1962 R. c. BROWN 3,050,415

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A LIQUID TO PANELS Filed Sept. 18. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

S ROBERT CLARENCE BRowN liu-.am .l t v ATTO R N EYS Aug- 21, 1962 R. c. BROWN 3,050,415

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A LIQUID TO PANELS Filed Sept. 18. 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 es 90 :NI 92 es w -I 7 1 72 lo 4 l0 .IN-L 4 INVENToR.

ROBERT CLARENCE BROWN BY h I,

l" A A "Tj';l Lf

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 53,050,415 Patented Aug. 21, 1952 3 050,415 MED-i) AND APPARATUS FR APPLYING A LIQUE 'I0 FANELS Robert Clarence Brown, Memphis, Tenn., assigner, by

mesne assignments, to E. L. Bruce C0. (Incorporated),

a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 840,923 5 Claims. (Cl. 117-102) This invention relates to apparatus for applying a iinishing liquid to a panel of Wood or cellulosic composition board such as Masonite or particle board.

In the finishing of wood or cellulosic composition board, for example, plywood panels, it is known to apply a penetrating seal finish composition in distinction from a surface coating such as varnish or shellac, work the finishing composition into the pores of the wood, remove excess finish composition, dry the finish and finally Wax the surface of the wood to complete the finish. The penetrating seal finish has heretofore been applied by the use of spray nozzles. Diiculty has been encountered in achieving a uniform prescribed amount of the liquid finish on the surface of the plywood panel and in the grooves, when the panel is grooved, due to the diiculty in spraying the finish composition which, generally, has a synthetic resin base. Indeed, in View of the diiculty of spraying the penetrating seal composition, compromises have generally had to be made in formulating the penetrating seal nish in order to insure that the best possible spraying could be achieved.

In accordance with this invention, the above discussed problem has been solved by eliminating the necessity for spraying the penetrating seal composition. Further, the apparatus in accordance with this invention not only results in a uniform application of the penetrating seal finish but, further, helps to Work the penetrating seal finish into the wood panel.

It is, therefore, t-he broad object of this invention to provide apparatus for the uniform application of a liquid to a wood panel which can be advantageously employed to apply a penetrating seal finish composition to a grooved plywood panel.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for applying a penetrating seal composition -to a plywood panel and which will assist in working a penetrating seal finish into the wood.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method for carrying out the operation of the apparatus.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparant on reading the following description in conjunc- .tion with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of an apparatus for applying a liquid to a Wood panel in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section through the roller and trough of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

An apparatus 2 for applying a liquid to plywood panels 4 having longitudinal grooves 6, is shown in FIGURES 1 through 4. Apparatus 2 is part of a plywood panel finishing line 8 which has an opening supporting framework 10. A belt conveyor 12, as best seen in FIGURE l, passes over -idler rollers 14 and a roller 16 which is driven by a sprocket 18 which in turn is driven by a chain 20. Conveyor belt 12 advances plywood panels 4 from right to left as viewed in FIGURE 1 and delivers them to an endless metal conveyor screen 24 which as best seen in FIGURE 2 passes over a large roller 26 and smaller idler rollers 28 and then passes around driven roller 30 which is driven by a sprocket 32 in turn driven by a chain 34. Conveyor screen 24 then passes around roller 36 and back up to the initially mentioned roller 26.

Conveyor screen 24 delivers Ithe plywood panels 4 to a belt conveyor 40 which passes around roller 42 and then passes over an idler roller 44.

While being advanced by endless conveyor screen 24 the plywood panels pass under a hold-down mechanism indicated at 46 and which has a pair of spaced hold-down rollers 48 which engage the plywood panel and which are mounted for rotation on arms 50 and 52 which are welded to a shaft 54 mounted for rotation in brackets 56 and 5S which are secured to framework 10 as by welding. As best seen in FIGURE 2, a lever 60 is welded to shaft 54 and has secured to its upper end an extension spring 62 and has its other end secured to a bearing block support indicated at 64.

A roller 70 having au outer resilient covering 74 which may be, for erxample, of rubber or felt and having a solid inner core of, for example, metal is mounted for rotation above endless conveyor screen 24 in a pair of spaced bearing blocks 76, each of which slidably engages a pair of spaced upright members 7S and 30 of a bearing block support 64. Each bearing block 76 is urged downwardly by a coil compression spring S2 which encompasses a boss 84 depending from a plate 86 which acts to back up spring S2. Extending upwardly from plate 85 is a threaded member 88 which passes through a nut Welded to bearing block support 64. This arrangement permits the adjustment of the position of plate 86 and hence an adjustment of the force exerted by spring S2.

In order to get a good squeegee action without too rapid abrasion, it is advantageous to use a covering 74 having a Durometer hardness, using a type A spring, of from l2 to 36, preferably from 17 to 23, and a thickness of a minimum of one quarter inch.

Mounted in a common plane with the axis of roller 70 and offset from the center line of roller 70 toward the direction from which the plywood is conveyed is a pipe 92 which is adapted to carry the liquid which is to be applied to the plywood panels 4. Pipe 92 is provided with spaced openings 94 which are directed downwardly towards roller 70. Pipe 92 has its outer end capped as indicated at 96 and is adapted to be connected to a source of supply of the liquid -to be employed.

A trough 102 is located below roller 70 and under the reach of conveyor spring 24 which passes immediately under roller 70. The trough 102 is mounted on a bracket 104 secured to framework 10 and provided with a drain age line 106 through which the liquid caught in trough 102 can be returned if desired to the source of supply of liquid.

Operation In operation the desired liquid, for example, a penetrating seal nish, is continuously supplied to pipe 92 and runs out of openings 94 to discharge onto and coat roller 70 from end to end. Until a panel 4 -is conveyed under roller 70 the lliquid will be carried down by roller 70 and discharged onto endless conveyor screen 24 through which it will pass into trough 102 and if desired returned to the source of supply through line 106.

Plywod panels 4 are advanced towards roller 70 at a uniform rate, being first advanced by conveyor belt 12 and then by conveyor screen 24. Each panel `4 passes under hold-down mechanism `46 and then engages roller 70 and passes thereunder. As soon as a panel 4 engages roller 70 the liquid applied to roller 70 is transferred to the top of panel 4. Advantageously, an excess amount of liquid is employed so that the liquid will build up immediately a pool at the juncture of the top of panel 4 and the outer periphery of roller 70. As panel 4 advances underneath and past roller 7 (l the outer surface 74 of roller '70 acts as a squeegee to remove the bulk of the liquid from the upper surface of panel y4, only leaving the desired amount of liquid on the panel. The amount of liquid which is left on the panel can be controlled by varying the pressure exerted by the springs 82 in the manner discussed above. In addition, the action of roller 70 acts to force the liquid into the wood of the panel which is obviously highly advantageous when the liquid is a penetrating seal finish. After the panel passes entirely through and leaves roller 70, the excess liquid which has built up on the panel will be discharged downwardly through conveyor screen 24 into trough 102. And the panel will be conveyed further down the line by conveyor belt 40. The operation is then repeated on the nex-t panel 4 which, as indicated above, is spaced from the preceding panel -in order to permit the discharge of excess liquid built up on the preceding panel.

It is not desired to be limited except as set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying a penetrating seal composition to grooved wood or cellulosic composition board panels comprising a roller having a resilient covering, a pipe mounted above said roller and having a plurality of spaced openings for the delivery of an amount of penetrating seal composition inexcess of the amount to be retained by the panels, said pipe being `oiset from the center line of the roller towards the direction from which the panels are conveyed, a forarninous conveyor passing under said roller, said -roller and conveyor being spaced to accommodate the conveyance of the panels under said roller and in contact with the roller, said roller acting as a squeegee to remove excess penetrating seal composition and forcing the said composition into the panel whereby the penetrating seal composition is uniformly applied =to the panel including the grooved portions of the panel and excess penetrating seal composition passes through fthe conveyor when a panel is not under said roller -to prevent any substantial coating of the side of the panel `facing the conveyor and a trough to catch the excess penetrating seal composition passing through the conveyor.

2. Apparatus for applying a penetrating seal composition to grooved wood or cellulosic composition board panels comprising a roller having a resilient covering, spring means urging the roller downwardly, a pipe mounted above said roller and having a plurality of spaced openings for the delivery of an amount of penetrating seal composition in excess of the amount to be retained by the panels, said pipe being offset from the center line of the roller towards the direction from which -the panels are conveyed and lying in a common plane with the axis of said roller, a foraminous conveyor passing under lsaid roller, said roller and conveyor being spaced to accommodate the conveyance of the panels under said roller and in contact with the roller, said roller acting as a squeegee to remove excess penetrating seal composition and forcing the said composition into the panel whereby the penetrating seal composition is uniformly applied to the panel including the grooved portions of the panel and excess penetrating seal composition passes through the conveyor when a panel is not under said roller to prevent any substantial coating of the side of the panel facing the conveyor and a trough to catch the excess penetrating seal .composition passing through the conveyor.

3. Apparatus for applying a penetrating seal composition to grooved wood or cellulosic composition board panels comprising a roller having a resilient covering, a pipe mounted above said roller and having a plurality of spaced openings for the delivery of an amount of penetrating `seal composition in excess of the amount to be retained by the panels, said pipe being offset from the center line of the roller towards the direction from which the panels are conveyed, a foraminous conveyor passing under said roller, said roller and conveyor being spaced to accommodate the conveyance of the panels under said roller and in contact with the roller, said roller acting as a squeegee Ito remove excess penetrating seal composition `and forcing the said composition into the panel whereby the penetrating seal composition is uniformly applied to the panel including the grooved portions of the panel and excess penetrating seal composition passes through the conveyor when a panel is not under said roller to prevent any substantial coating of the side of the panel facing the conveyor, a trough to catch the excess penetrating seal composition passing through the conveyor and spring biased means 4to hold said panels down prior to passing under said roller.

4. Apparatus for applying a penetrating seal composition to grooved wood or cellulosic composition board panels comprising a roller having a resilient covering having a Durometer hardness using a type A spring of from 12 to 36, and a thickness of at least one-quarter inch, spring means urging the roller downwardly, a pipe mounted above said roller and having a plurality of spaced openings for the delivery of an amount of penetrating Kseal composition in excess of the amount to be retained by the panels, said pipe being oiset from the center lines of the roller towards the direction from which the panels are conveyed, a foraminous conveyor passing under said roller, said roller and conveyor being spaced to accommodate the conveyance of the panels under said roller and in contact with the roller, said roller acting as a squeegee to remove excess penetrating seal composition and forcing the said composition into the panel whereby the penetrating seal composition is uniformly applied to the panel including the grooved portions of the panel and excess penetrating seal composition passes through the conveyor when a panel is not under said roller to prevent any substantial coating of the side of -the panel facing the conveyor and a trough to catch the excess penetrating seal composition passing through the conveyor.

5. The method of applying a penetrating seal nish composition to a grooved wood or cellulosic composition board panel comprising applying an excess of liquid penetrating seal composition to the panel, moving the panel underneath a roller having a resilient covering while urging the roller `downwarr'lly against the panel to force penetrating seal composition into the panel including the grooved portion of the panel and remove excess penetrating seal composition from the panel whereby the penetrating seal inish composition is uniformly applied to the entire panel including the grooved portions of the panel.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 610,165 Burt Sept. 6, 1898 2,333,285 Welluetz Nov. 2, 1943 2,689,545 Nelson Sept. 2l, 1954 2,747,541 Chew May 29, 1956 2,998,327 Catallo Aug. 29, 1961 

